by Amelia Cobb
“I filmed it all on my phone!” her friend told her. “I can’t wait to show everyone at school. They’ll all want to come and see her!”
Zoe glanced over at Mr Pinch. The grumpy zoo manager’s expression had changed completely. He was beaming from ear to ear and nodding along with the rest of the crowd. “Of course, this special show was all my idea,” he explained loudly to whoever would listen. “And it was my decision to feature all of the sea otters too. Very intelligent creatures. I just knew they’d be popular!”
“Zoe, look!” chirped Meep, pointing. “All the otters are swimming together!”
Zoe turned back to the pool – and grinned. Nina and Alex had both offered their little sister a furry paw, and all three were floating along on their backs, with Sasha in the middle. From the cheerful squeals and squeaks she was letting out, Zoe could tell she was very happy. Eagerly, she tried a somersault in the water – and although she didn’t quite manage it, and splashed water everywhere, the crowd seemed to love it. “They are all so adorable!” cried a blonde lady standing close to Mr Pinch. “The scruffy little one is the cutest. I’d come back and watch her every day if I could.”
“I can’t believe it,” whispered Zoe to Meep. “Sasha is the star of the whole show!”
When the show was over and the audience began trickling away, Zoe ran to give her mum and Great-Uncle Horace a hug before they went back to the cottage. “You did such a good job of helping Sasha gain her confidence, Zoe,” said Lucy, smiling. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Hear, hear!” said Great-Uncle Horace.
Zoe shook her head. “It was all down to Sasha – and to Olivia!” she added, beaming at her little cousin, who giggled. “And to Eddie, of course!” and she patted the soggy teddy bear on the head.
“We’ll have a special tea tonight, to celebrate,” said Lucy. “You’ll come too, won’t you, Uncle Horace?”
“Can I stay here for a little bit longer?” asked Zoe. “I want to help Jess finish tidying up. I’ll be home soon!”
Lucy agreed, and Zoe waved them off. Then she knelt by the side of the pool to talk to the youngest sea otter.
“Sasha, you were amazing!” she whispered. “You rescued Olivia’s special teddy and you swam in front of everyone, just like Nina and Alex!”
Sasha nodded and squeaked back, her eyes bright. “I’m so glad you’re feeling more confident,” Zoe replied, smiling.
As Zoe and Meep left the enclosure a little bit later, Zoe turned back to glance over the fence one last time, and grinned. The three otters were in the pool, all of them clasping paws again as they floated through the water. “Sasha seems really happy now, doesn’t she, Meep?” Zoe said.
“So do Nina and Alex,” chirped Meep. “And I’m really happy they’ve come to live at the Rescue Zoo with us, Zoe!”
“Me too, Meep,” replied Zoe, cuddling her little friend. “I wonder what animal Great-Uncle Horace will bring home with him next time? I can’t wait to find out!”
Chapter One
Meep Gets into Mischief
Zoe Parker wrinkled her nose and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. “Aaaachooo!” she sneezed as dust went up her nose. “Aaaa-chooo!”
Zoe was raking up the minty-smelling leaves in the koala enclosure at the Rescue Zoo. All around her, tall green trees stretched up from the dusty, pebbly ground. Every time Zoe moved her rake, a small cloud of dust puffed into the air – and straight up her nose!
As the branches above her head shook, Zoe glanced up. Perched in the tree was Matilda, one of the koalas. Zoe thought she was one of the cuddliest animals at the Rescue Zoo, with her soft grey fur, cute black nose and big fluffy ears. But right now Matilda didn’t look at all cuddly – she looked cross!
The koala gave a noisy chatter, and a tiny creature scampered out of the leaves and shot down the tree trunk. He stuck his pink tongue out at Matilda before leaping on to Zoe’s shoulder.
“Meep!” Zoe said, grinning at the little mouse lemur. Meep was her very best friend. He was so small he could easily ride on Zoe’s shoulder, and he was always getting into mischief!
The koala chattered again crossly, and Zoe looked up in time to see her fluffy bottom disappear further up the tree. Zoe giggled. Being with all the animals was her favourite thing about her zoo home, even when they were cross!
Zoe was very lucky – because she lived at the Rescue Zoo! Her Great-Uncle Horace was the zoo owner, and knew almost everything about animals. Zoe didn’t see him very often, because he spent lots of time travelling around the world, looking for animals that needed help. Whenever he found an animal in trouble or without a home he brought them back to live at the Rescue Zoo! Zoe’s mum, Lucy, was the zoo vet, and she and Zoe lived in a cottage on the edge of the zoo.
Matilda shook her furry head and chattered crossly again at Meep, and Zoe smiled. “You’re right, Matilda,” she replied. “Meep is the naughtiest lemur I’ve ever met, too.”
Living at the Rescue Zoo was the first exciting thing about Zoe, but the second thing was even more special. Zoe knew a very big secret: animals can understand what people say, and talk to them all the time! But only a few lucky people can talk back to them. Zoe was one of these special people. Ever since her sixth birthday she had understood every growl, grunt, squeak and roar the animals made! But she could never tell anyone the animals’ secret – not even her family.
“What were you doing this time, Meep?” said Zoe as the lemur snuggled into her shoulder.
“I wasn’t doing anything naughty, Zoe,” Meep complained grumpily. “I just wanted to try one of Matilda’s special leaves. They look so green and juicy, and they smell so nice. But I had one tiny bite and then I spat it straight out. It tasted horrible!”
“Oh, Meep!” Zoe sighed. “Those are eucalyptus leaves, and they’re poisonous to most animals! They would have made you very sick. Matilda can eat them because koalas have special tummies that protect them. She was just trying to help you.” She smiled up at Matilda. “Thank you,” she told the koala gratefully. “No wonder you were upset with cheeky Meep!”
Matilda nodded her furry head and quickly chattered back.
“No, I’m sure he won’t do it again!” Zoe replied. “Will you, Meep?”
Meep’s big golden eyes were wide as he shook his head. “I’ll stick to bananas from now on. And apples. And maybe nuts too … and sunflower seeds…”
Zoe giggled as Meep started listing all the foods he liked. Meep was a little animal with a big appetite!
Up in the tree, Matilda suddenly gave an excited squeak and began chattering eagerly.
“What is it?” Zoe asked curiously.
“Let’s go and see!” chirped Meep, bounding nimbly back up the tree. Zoe quickly grabbed the lowest branches and pulled herself up to where Matilda was sitting. She wasn’t as good at climbing as the koalas, or Meep, but she was still the best in her class. She had lots of practice playing with her animal friends!
Peering through the leaves over the top of the wooded enclosure, Zoe saw a bright-yellow jeep rumbling slowly through the zoo gates. It was very dusty, with big muddy wheels, and looked like it had travelled a long way. The back of the jeep was open and flat, without a roof or any seats, and a large wooden crate was strapped on to it.
Around her, Zoe heard lots of noise as the other zoo animals spotted the jeep. The grizzly bears growled curiously. The turtles swam to the edge of their lagoon enclosure. And Oscar, the friendly African elephant, lifted his big trunk in the air and gave a noisy trumpet.
As the jeep got closer, Zoe could see something through the dirt on the door. There was a familiar logo painted there – a hot-air balloon, the symbol of the Rescue Zoo! Zoe’s heart gave a big thump of excitement. “It’s Great-Uncle Horace!” she gasped. “He’s back from his safari trip. And he’s brought a new animal for the Rescue Zoo!”
Copyright
With special thanks to Natalie Doherty
To Theo
First publishe
d in the UK in 2017 by Nosy Crow Ltd
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Text copyright © Hothouse Fiction, 2017
Illustrations copyright © Sophy Williams, 2017
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